Menu

Prompts

Contests

Stories

Blog

Menu

✕

CONNECT

Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites

BLOG

Success Stories

APPS

TOOLS

Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships

ABOUT

About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#81: Candy Hearts

Ah, love. From the first spark of attraction to the soul-deep contentment of a long-established relationship, romantic love is a force that continues to mystify, enthrall, and surprise us.

And while there’s plenty to criticize about Valentine’s Day, it’s still a nice excuse for people in romantic relationships to stop and appreciate their partners for a day. Especially during lockdown, when quarters are tight and nerves are often frayed, it’s important to remember why we chose the person (or people) we coupled up with.

What better time for a writer to dive headfirst into romances? No matter how many times we tell a love story, each relationship is going to have its own unique joys and frustrations, and we want to feel them all. So feel free to let your sappy side out — this week we’re celebrating love!

This week's prompts

Write about two people reconnecting after a rough patch in their relationship.

Romance – 247 stories

Write a love story about an older couple who’ve been together since they were teenagers.

Romance – 168 stories

Write about a first date that surprises both people, but in different ways.

Romance – 161 stories

Start your story with one character setting up a romantic dinner, and end it with them looking at a framed wedding photo.

Romance – 181 stories

Write about someone asking out an old crush, only to realize their crush doesn’t remember they’ve ever met before.

Romance – 159 stories

Stories

“Felicia's Faded Felicity” by AntMan 🐜

Submitted to Contest #81

This story is inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Magnus Chase and the gods of Asgard, and my siblings.🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸AUTHOR’S PRENOTE: Felicity means “intense happiness”🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸This was before I left home.I was rushing around Dad and my house, gathering dishes, silverware, pots, and pans. He was bringing home Ailsa, someone he had been dating for a while, ever since my mom left. They’ve been together for two years to that date, and Dad had already told me about his plan to bring out the ring.He assigned m...

Read story

“The time in between ” by Hayden Quinn

Submitted to Contest #81

He’s going to love this so much. The dinner table looked exactly as it had exactly a year ago, the night that he proposed. I’d taken so many photos of the evening, it had made it easy to replicate the setup. I’d even driven across town to the specific butcher that we’d gotten the leg of lamb from that day, to go with the carefully prepared cheddar and chive mash I’d made. I knew there was a good chance he wouldn’t realise it was the anniversary of our engagement, but that didn’t matter, he’d remember once he saw the dining room. I glanced a...

Read story

“Just Yet” by David G.

Submitted to Contest #81

Shaker Heights, OH, 1968 and Gaithersburg, MD, 2020 “Don’t go just yet,” she whispered into his ear. “I’m not ready to be without you.”Her head rested on his bare chest, still narrow and smooth with youth. She ran her fingers along his stomach, toward the top edge of the blanket, which lay loosely around his waist. She sniffled as a tear fell from her cheek. He gently stroked her thick, wavy brown hair, the nape of her neck, the space between her shoulder blades. A slim slant of light from the hallway made a streak along the ceiling and...

Read story

“Warmest Hearts ❤️” by The Manticore

Submitted to Contest #81

It was blizzarding again and Seb was worried. He woke up at one in the morning (without needing to go to the bathroom, for once) and stood in front of the glimmering window with his hands in his pockets, head down, lips folded underneath his teeth. Berean rolled over off her silently pulsing SmartPillow; her head smacked the mattress and she opened her eyes. It was white outside. That was the only way to describe it. It was pure, burning white. Snow cloaked the big oaks outside, dusted the screens on the windows, blanketed the wind...

Read story

“Lexie and I” by 💫 Sophia 💫

Submitted to Contest #81

Authors note: Hey guys this is a collab with Luna! We have been working on this for a while and I am happy to present Lexie and I! I will link the link to Emilia and I in the comments. If you have questions feel free to leave them in the comments! :) Emilila’s POV I wish it would stop. It never stops. All the fighting, screaming and hitting. Lexie is lucky, she’s old enough to go out. I’m trapped here, terrified every night. I am only 13 and have been raising myself for the past 3 years. When my mom decided to marry this awful man. I ...

Read story

“One Last Time” by Vicky S

Submitted to Contest #81

The flame of the candle flickered as a gentle breeze blew through the back garden. The sweet smell of the flowers still in bloom wafted through the door, making Derek wrinkle his nose in an effort not to sneeze, as he wrestled the potatoes onto their roasting tray. Everything has to be perfect, he thought, as he glanced at the book propped open against the toaster, his finger shaking slightly as he ran it down the list of ingredients. “Now, I reckon that’s everything,” he whispered, breathing a sigh of relief, as he noticed the time. If ther...

Read story

“Jared's Love” by 💖♎ℂℍℝ𝕀𝕊𝕋𝕐 ℍ𝕆𝔽𝔽𝕄𝔸ℕℕ♎💖

Submitted to Contest #81

Jared was humming as he was cooking. As he let the steaks fry, he walked to the dining room, setting the roses he had bought earlier, all over the table. Each one had its own small vase and candle. He was excited. It was the first time he had gotten to cook for Becca on their anniversary since they were married. He was humming the anniversary song as he walked back to the kitchen to take the steaks out of the pan. He started to make white gravy as the phone rang.He glanced at the clock, it was 9:24 p.m. she should be home soon he though...

Read story

“Felicia's Fortune Chapter 4: You Again!?!?” by AntMan 🐜

Submitted to Contest #81

After Azazel’s dramatic statement, Max and I decided to walk to our dorms. He walked me to my room, number 141, and gave me a map, which labeled each part of Camp Sparta. This is when I finally learned about the rest of camp.“There’s a lava-coated rock wall!?”“Yep.”“And a full armory!?”“Yeah, all the weapons come in all sizes imaginable. The kids love it.”I stared at Max in disbelief. He had to be joking, because lava was definitely not kid-safe. I was about to tell him so when a bell tolled.“That’s the nighttime bell. They ring it to let yo...

Read story

“Chaos at the Cafe” by Valerie June

Submitted to Contest #81

“See you soon, Mark.”A young woman ends the call and sets her phone down to place her full attention on the road. Once she’s merged onto the highway she quickly glances at the rear view mirror to check on her physical appearance before meeting with Mark. An image of dazzling dark brown eyes, defined eyebrows, long auburn bangs, and hastily applied ruby red lipstick reflects back at her. Adjusting the mirror, she looks in the back seat where her tiny yorkie puppy, Peanut, and her purse stitched in calligraphy with the words, My Angel, lay.Her...

Read story

“Re-loading...” by Bianka Nova

Submitted to Contest #81

Billy:Hi…Hello there!Hey, Lilly!seenIt’s me…BillyseenHow are you?seenOK, no need to be rude…Yeah, I know it’s been a long time…Yep, I’m an asshole…I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. You have every right not to talk to me if you don’t want to. I just hope you’re doing well.I’m back in town…Lilly:You’re what?So, you remember me only if things go bad…I haven’t heard from you in years. You didn’t even text me for my birthday…Hi, Billy!Believe it or not, community college professors can also be busy.Sorry for taking a bit longer to reply.Although...

Read story

“Homecoming” by Christina Marie

Submitted to Contest #81

Stiff in starched green, Daniel returns home alone on blistered feet. Stately elms line the lonely road, their twisted arms reaching up to the pink sky in silent salute of his unexpected return. His left ear rings. The doc says it might go away, or it might not. He knows it won’t. He’ll hear the ringing until the end. Just like the screams. Just like the whistles that foretell flying limbs, flinging mud, a piercing headache, and oozing floods of blood. He limps up the dirt drive without fanfare, his polished boots kicking up parched pu...

Read story

“He Calls Me Buttercup” by 💖♎ℂℍℝ𝕀𝕊𝕋𝕐 ℍ𝕆𝔽𝔽𝕄𝔸ℕℕ♎💖

Submitted to Contest #81

"Scott?" I looked up to see him climbing in bed. "What's up, Buttercup" he whispered. He had called me that since the first day we met."What would you be doing now, if we had never met?" I asked as seriously as I could while snuggling up close to him."Well, let's see. I think I would be riding my Harley, looking around at the beauty around me on the trip im taking with the guys." He looked serious but then laughed. I pinched him on the side, "That's what we do already." I chuckled."My heart would be pining for you." He laughed agai...

Read story

“Just a Little Crush” by Arwen Dove

Submitted to Contest #81

She could feel herself turning black and blue with envy. Her rage consumed her and she stomped away. She hated everyone at that moment- particularly Melissa. It had all started at school a few weeks ago… >>>>> It was the first day of school for the year and Valerie felt her eyes drifting to the boy at the seat next to her. She couldn’t help but notice his shaggy brown hair and bright green eyes. The boy looked at her and smiled. Valerie could feel her heart fluttering. Her cheeks turned all pink and she looked down at her text...

Read story

“Goose Eggs” by Cathryn V

Submitted to Contest #81

At eighteen, Jess Hargrove was afraid of people his age, afraid he might embarrass himself. He spent most of his free time in the virtual world of gaming. His young body softened into an egg-shaped figure with an upside-down U of unruly hair.But one afternoon at his cousin's house up in Pittsburgh, an hour from home, there was this girl he met. He’d driven up from Steubenville, grumbling that he hated parties, but his mother had insisted and so he made the trip in his old Kia with the broken radio, planning to show up, eat and leave.The smal...

Read story

“Reconnected Forever” by Niveeidha Palani

Submitted to Contest #81

Author's Note: I'm not good with romance, so I decided to make this a "friend" relationship instead.Alice sunk into the recliner, closing her eyes, and lighting what seemed like the twentieth cigarette. She wasn't going good after the fight with Bethany. Period.The fridge, stocked with countless boxes of doughnuts, and cakes. Empty packets of candy littered the room. Water endlessly pooled at the edge of the sink. Screw the plumber.Doughnuts had been the ultimate cure for the pain. A fight about university.Think about that, she spat bitterly...

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

916

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 19, 2021 EST

Won by Molly Quinnell 🏆

Title: Golden Cheekbones and the Rising Sun

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢